Door controlling device



Jan. 21, 1969 w. E. RICH DOOR CONTRQLLING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1966 FIG.4

H m R. O E w m 1 R M M g H w r B W a 5 u m F qillid Flu 3 mmm #40 v. w 7

ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1969 Y w. a. RICH 3,422,573

DOOR CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1966 Sheet 2 of 2 FIG.2

WARREN E. RICH 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORN Y United States Patent 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is a vacuum operated door controlling mechanism adapted for dairy barns, mountable above and extending outwardly, from the door to be controlled. The device is comprised of a cylinder, a piston Within the cylinder, a hollow push rod atached to said piston and mounted above the door to be controlled, a push rod attached to said cylinder and the door, a bias spring attached to the cylinder adapted to bias rod cylinder from the door, a hollow push rod having a passage extending therethrough to within the cylinder, a vacuum source attached to the passage of the hollow push rod and a button controlled vacuum control positioned between the vacuum source and the passage of the hollow push rod. The vacuum control allows the cylinder to be evacuated causing it to press the door open. When the vacuum is 'broken by the vacuum control, the bias spring draws the door closed.

The present invention has found great utility as a door opening and closing device {for use in dairy barns when it is desired to individually admit the dairy cows into the milking area of the barn when they are to be milked. Many times it is found convenient for an operator standing some distance from the cow admitting door to open this door, let one cow into the milking area, close the door and secure her for milking. Thereafter, to admit another cow, and repeat the process. Upon occasion it is found desirable to have the cows themselves. actuate the admitting door by stepping on a conventional treadle mat or hose, connected to the door actuating mechanism of the present invention.

The present invention provides a device for the operation of doors which utilizes for its actuating power a vacuum. Such a vacuum can be readily supplied by the vacuum milking machine frequently used in dairy farms. The use of vacuum, as opposed to fluid pressure, provides a readily available and safe power source which will not activate doors with such force that they might injure animals who are accidentally struck by the doors. Moreover the present invention is of simple construction and sufficiently compact that it may be easily installed in a barn area. Although this invention is hereinafter described as an actuating mechanism for doors, it is within contemplation of the invention that it may have numerous other mechanical uses as well and hence its use is not to be construed as restricted to doors.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vacuum control device which will easily and quickly open doors upon a signal.

It is another object of this invention toprovide a control device capable of operating doors utilizing a small quantity of vacuum energy.

It is another object of this device to provide a simple, easily installed door controlled mechanism which will open and close hinged doors, sliding doors, or operate other mechanical devices.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a vacuum regulating device which may be operated by digital button or by a low pressure foot treadle.

It is still another object of this invention to provide door operating device having a speed control therein.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a "ice door controlling mechanism of which operates low voltage.

These and other objects of this invention will appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of this invention shown connected to two hinged doors;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the invention, partially in section showing the internal mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view showing of one embodiment of the vacuum control device of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of the operating buttons which actuate the vacuum control device of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the vacuum control device of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, 10 represents a pair of hinged doors, to be operated by this improved mechanism, rotatably mounted upon door frames 12 by means of hinges 14.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the mechanism which forms the present invention comprises a vacuum cylinder 16 horizontally mounted to the wall 18 above the doors 10 by a hollow piston rod 20 attached to a bracket 21 which is bolted to wall 18. A spring 22 is suspended between a solid support 24 and the end portion of cylinder 16 most distant from the doors 10, so as to bias the cylinder 16 toward the solid support 24. A slideable U-clamp 26 is secured about the outer portion of cylinder 16 and is rotatably attached to two push rods 28 the opposite end of which are rotatably attached to door brackes 30 which are secured to the upper portion of doors 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, it may be seen that a piston 32 is attached to the end portion of hollow piston rod 20 within cylinder 16 so as to form a vacuum chamber 34 in the inner end portion of cylinder 16. Piston 32 is of the conventional air sealing type having piston seals 36 around the outer periphery thereof. The other end portion of hollow piston rod 20 is screwably attached to connector tube 37 welded to bracket 21. An inlet tube 38 passes through connector tube 37 and hollow piston rod 20 so as to form a passage through hollow piston rod 20 into vacuum chamber 34. A vacuum control hose 40 connects inlet tube 38 with vacuum control device 42 which is integrally attached to the wall 18 above the doors 10. Vacuum source tube 44 from the control device 42 is connected to a source of vacuum (not shown) such as a cow milking machine. A low voltage switching line 46 is also connected to vacuum control device 42 and to low voltage ON switch 48 and low voltage OFF switch 50 seen in FIGURE 4. As may be readily seen, when a vacuum is admitted to vacuum control hose 40, through the internal portion of hollow piston rod 20 to vacuum chamber 34; atmospheric pressure will cause vacuum cylinder 16 to slide upon piston 32 toward the doors 10 extending spring 22.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the vacuum control device 42 is designed to, on command, admit vacuum into vacuum control hose 40 thus causing vacuum cylinder 16 to move toward doors 10 land through push rod 28 to open them. The vacuum control device 42 is mounted within a control box 52 which may be easily mounted on the wall near the doors 10. Vacuum control hose 40 is connected to a speed control valve 54 having an adjustment handle 56. When adjustment handle 56 is turned, the opening through the speed control valve 54 is varied hence the quantity of vacuum passing through it is controlled. Speed control valve 54 is connected to tube 60 which is connected through vacuum control valve 58 to vacuum control hose 40. Vacuum control valve 58 is an OPEN-CLOSED type which will allow communication between vacuum control hose 40 and tube 60. Vacuum control valve 58 is of such a nature that when it is in the closed position it will vent vacuum control hose 40 to the atmosphere through an atmosphere vent 62. An electrical solenoid 64 is connected to a control handle 66 of valve 58, which upon rotating will turn vacuum control valve 58 OPEN or CLOSED. Control handle 66 is connected to electrical armature 68 of solenoid 64 by means of la. valve spring 70 so that actuation of the solenoid armature 68 in a direction opposite from vacuum control valve 58 will rotate control handle 66 through valve spring 70 to turn the vacuum control valve 58 to its CLOSED position. A return spring 72 is connected be tween control handle 66 and the control box 52 so as to bias the control handle 66 to the CLOSED position when armature 68 is not actuated.

The electrical solenoid 64 is connected to conventional house current line 74 through master switch 76 and pilot light 78. Low voltage switching lines 46 are connected to low voltage ON switch 48 and low voltage OFF switch 50 in FIGURE 4. The voltage through these switches is usually 6 to 12 volts. These switches in turn are connected to a switching relay 80. Switching relay 80 is so designed that only low current passes through switches "48 and 50. When low voltage ON switch 48 is pressed it actuates switching relay 80 so 'as to supply house current (115 volts) from line 74 directly to electrical solenoid 64 actuating it. The advantage of this arrangement may be readily seen in that the low voltage ON and OFF switches 48 and 50 expose the operator to no danger of severe electrical shock.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, a modification of the embodiment of vacuum control device 42 may be seen where switching relay 80 is replaced by low pressure air switch 82. Low pressure air switch 82 may be connected to a flexible treadle hose (not shown) or a treadle mat (not shown) which when stepped on will cause pressure to be applied to low pressure switch 82 actuating it. The actuation of low pressure air switch 82 will allow house current from line 74 to pass to electrical solenoid 64 causing it to operate. This embodiment may be used in situations where it is desired to actuate the device by a pressure of an animal stepping upon an air pressure mat or hose, as when a cow might enter a barn.

In operation, when it is desired to open doors 10, low voltage ON switch 48 is pressed causing switching relay 80 to actuate so as to supply electrical solenoid 64 with current from line 74. When electrical solenoid 64 is actuated, armature 68 is drawn within solenoid 64 pulling valve spring 70 which turns control handle 66- to the open position allowing the vacuum in tube 60 from vacuum source 44 to be transmitted through vacuum control hose 40 through the internal portion of hollow piston rod 20 and into vacuum chamber 34. When a vacuum is present in vacuum chamber 34, outside atmospheric pressure ttorces vacuum cylinder .16 to move toward doors thus drawing piston 32 within vacuum cylinder 16 and against the bias of spring 22. The movement of vacuum cylinder 16 toward doors 10 causes push rods 28 to also move and exert pressure against doors 10 causing them to pivot open on hinges 14. When it is desired to close the doors 10, low voltage OFF switch 50 is pressed, which through switching relay 80 breaks the connection between house current line 74 and the electrical solenoid 64. The return spring 72 then turns control handle 66 so as to interrupt the vacuum connection between tube 60 and vacuum control hose 40, and at the same time vents vacuum control hose 40 to the atmosphere through atmosphere vent 62. The vacuum within vacuum chamber 34 is thus destroyed so that vacuum cylinder I16 will exert no further forward The alternate embodiment of this invention as indicated in FIGURE 5 operates identically to that previously described except that a low pressure switch 82 is substituted for switching relay The low pressure air switch 82 is connected to air pressure mats or tubes (not shown) which when stepped upon will cause a pressure to be built up in low pressure switch 82 and for it to turn on. Thus as may Ibe readily seen a treadle control mat or tube (not shown) may be placed to be actuated by human feet or by animals so that it will automatically actuate the invention causing the doors 10 to open.

Although I have described this invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that numerous changes in the details in the construction in the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as here and after claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum operated mechanism for controlling a door in a dairy barn having a vacuum source actuated by a vacuum control, comprising in combination:

a cylinder;

a push rod attached between said cylinder and to said door to be controlled;

a piston positioned within said cylinder to form a vacuum chamber therein;

a piston rod attached between said piston and a support;

a passage extending to said vacuum chamber connected to said vacuum control;

means to bias said cylinder away from said door;

whereby when a vacuum is applied to said passage, said piston will press said door open and when said vacuum is relieved, said means to bias will press said door closed. I

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said means to bias, is a bias spring.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which said passage extends through said piston rod to said vacuum chamber.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which said vacuum control is comprised of, in combination:

a vacuum source;

a speed regulating valve in communication with said vacuum source;

a control valve connected between said speed regulating valve and said vacuum chamber;

a valve actuating device connected to said control valve and adapted to open and close said control valve.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which said valve actuating device is comprised of, in combination;

an electrical solenoid;

a relay device connected to said electrical solenoid and to a source of electrical power;

a switching device connected to said relay device having touch button control adapted to actuate said door to a fully opened or a fully closed position;

whereby when said switching device is actuated, said electrical solenoid opens said control valve, connecting the said vacuum chamber with said vacuum source.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 in which said switching device operates on low voltage.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which said relay device is a low pressure switch.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 in which said operating mechanism is mounted from a single point above said door to be controlled.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 in which said bias spring is positioned between said cylinder and a fixed support;

whereby when the vacuum in said cylinder is broken 5 by said vacuum control, said bias spring will draw said door closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,764,150 6/1930 Candee 49-265 X 2,534,525 12/1950 Molloy 49-199 X 6 2,570,434 10/1951 Dow et a1 91216 X 2,755,080 7/1956 Huner 49-264 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

5 J. KARL BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

